SFF working across all sectors to ensure a sustainable and profitable future

By Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive

On the 17 and 19 July a delegation of Scottish fishermen: Mike Park of the Scottish Whitefish Producers Association, Ian Harcus from the Orkney Fishermen's Association and Leslie Tait of the Shetland Fishermen's
Association, met with the European Commission, passing on the encouraging facts of cod recovery as seen on the fishing grounds.

As a backdrop to the meetings a substantial programme of work and consultations across all sectors of the catching industry is underway. This is aimed at securing a sustainable, responsible, commercially viable outcome across the board from the agreements on fishing opportunity for 2008 to be reached at the end of the year Council of Ministers and - every bit as important for Scotland - the Coastal states and Norway negotiations this winter.

The state of cod stocks often finds its way into the news because of the familiarity of this fish to the public and rich, easy soundbite pickings from the scientific assessment. The picture painted is usually superficial
and inaccurate - hence the Brussels meetings of 17 and 19 July.

However, a closely related issue is the effect of cod recovery measures - quota and days at sea - on some other important Scottish sectors, because cod capture occurs as a bycatch in several mixed fisheries - prawn (or Scottish Langoustine) and haddock to name but two. The picture is further complicated by fundamental regional differences, particularly between the North Sea and the West of Scotland.

It would be wrong to conclude that cod recovery is the only or main focus of attention of the Scottish fishing industry's efforts with the scientific community and the Scottish Executive Marine Directorate; practical
solutions are being pursued to build on a package of proactive measuresacross the industry.

One important Scottish sector - the pelagic fleet catching herring and mackerel - is free of cod-related constraints but has a different set of problems to be addressed. The biology of North Sea Herring is causing some concern over the lack of recruitment over the last few years. This has no connection at all with fishing pressure but will almost unavoidably resultin a significant drop in fishing opportunity next year, making a realistic decision on the mainstay stock of this sector - mackerel - of crucial importance for Scotland. The results of the triennial mackerel egg survey (partially funded by industry) are due in September and all the signs on the grounds are encouraging. Catch limits are set in three-way negotiations between Norway, the Faeroe Islands and the EU; Scotland is, by some distance, the predominant EU player. Scientific funding has just been committed to trial separator grids to improve release of smaller fish.

Prawn (or Scottish Langoustine) stocks on both sides of the country are in a good state and being harvested entirely sustainably. There will be no new science this year, however there is potential for disproportionate
regulation of this sector on the back of cod recovery measures. Clear facts and strong arguments will be needed and are being assembled to ensure that the sector is realistically treated on effort control and potential quota restrictions. A considerable amount of technical work has been done and is now bearing fruit on measures to increase selectivity and release small fish, particularly cod.

Effort control - days at sea - is a feature of all fisheries with a cod catch in the extensive Cod Recovery Zone. Work is progressing to explore the possible process and potential benefits of national control of effort,
aiming at a much more effective system than the present one-size-fits-all.

Reduction of discards is the subject of a Scottish fishery-by-fishery investigation, looking to define the problem and produce a practical, realistic plan in each case. Scientific funding has just been provided to
research cod nursery and spawning aggregation areas in the North Sea and West Coast and funding for an observer programme is being pursued. Area-based measures may emerge as helpful.

This all adds up to a responsible and committed approach by the Scottish industry to its goal of a sustainable, profitable industry with a bright future.